Bridge pier painting

Great column Marty!  I particularly like the foam sponge painting technique to get the variation in stone color.  Will this approach also work on plastic and resin parts?  I assume that if it did, it would be useful to have some sort of primer coat on the pieces first.

regards

Bruce Smith

Auburn, AL

is that an oops?

Very Nice painting method! [ now you've got me focused on documenting mine. ]

Micro Engineering bridges come with 'hinges' to support both ends of the span. 

But the photos don't show these (thus I respect your faithful reproduction).  Did the RR goof... I thought these are Needed.. or are they just modern 'construction standard' ?

(the telegraph pole detail is quite typical of the desperate east-coast RRs... the Erie did such, too)

Very well done

Very good article, this is why MRH is my favorite.

I created some piers for my Skaggs Hole Bridge using 7/16" OSB covered with sheetrock "mud", sanded and then colored with washes and chalks.

Thanks Bruce

Yes, I've used the same sea sponge painting technique on plastic and resin parts. Depending on the material, it may help to apply a primer coat first. You could even prime it with a lightly  textured paint like the Rustoleum brand texture spray paint. 

The key is to roll the sponge as you apply the paint and to keep rotating the part as you work. 

Marty

Bridge shoes

are not modern "construction standards" at all. There still needs to a bearing surface between the bridge girder and supports - in the case of this prototype they used bearing plates and not the shoes. 

A Nice Read

Really enjoyed your article Marty. I've always found it kind of hard to get consistent results when trying to model bridge piers in the past. I plan to give your techniques a go in my upcoming expansion.

Bridge on the CV

Marty,

Great article, it will be helpful when I get to the StJ&LC bridge over the Missisquoi in Swanton. Had a great CVRHS convention in Amherst MA, saw the places I saw long ago and also have in videos from the 50s.

Best wishes,

Bob

Perfect timing

This article is perfect timing, Marty, and MRH.  Thanks.

I'm just getting ready to construct a two-span deck girder bridge.  I had not gotten as far as how to do abutments  and the mid-span pier, so this is the five-star article, in my book.

My girder bridge is based on an SP prototype that I took pictures of when visiting the Tehachapi Mts.

Here's photos and a drawing based on scaling the photos (of course, Murphy's Law decreed that I would forget my measuring tape when I went railfanning ).